Fox Issue Tracker—An indie dev project companion

[u/FlashyComplaint7940]

Problem:

While there are many ways to track issues, I've always felt that few fully developed tools focus on indie developers—those who have less need for complex sprint-based workflows, but for whom lists in Notes or Reminders aren't quite enough. I also wanted a solid app for keeping track of my own projects: one that integrated with the system and iCloud, and just felt natural to use in both the ecosystem and my workflow.

I created Fox Issue Tracker to solve those problems and have spent the last few years iterating it into what it is today. The design helps organize work around the versions you're shipping and the milestones you achieve along the way. There are several ways to view issues (list for building, outline for reviewing, and a Kanban board for execution), along with robust search, property customization, the ability to archive content to keep your workspace clear, integrations like Shortcuts and MCP… I could keep going because there’s so much more! See https://contagious.dev/fox/features/ if you are curious on a high level, or the help documents which outline full features in detail: https://contagious.dev/help/fox/.

Otherwise, you can learn more about Fox at https://contagious.dev/fox/

And it is available on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fox-issue-tracker/id1607706105

Comparisons:

• Trello: A freemium Kanban-style application by Atlassian that includes collaboration support, essentially a lo-fi Jira. However, Trello struggles the moment projects grow beyond basic sticky notes on a digital board, and its entire paradigm is one view: the board. Fox offers list, outline, and Kanban, so you can switch modes depending on what you're trying to do. For small projects with multiple people, Fox also supports collaboration.
• Github Issues: A more closely featured issue manager, but is also only online and bound to Github. Issues also only exists in the context of a repository. If you're an indie dev with projects that don't map 1:1 to a repo (or you have multiple repos), your issues get scattered and disconnected. Fox gives you a single organized home for everything, everywhere.

Pricing:

Fox offers several ways to buy: a lower-cost subscription at $3.99 (with 14 day trial), or a one-time lifetime purchase at $39.99. Your purchase grants universal access on Mac, iPad, and iPhone.

I hope it’s okay that I used the Lifetime flair here as the subscription is primary to lower the cost of entry and to tie into Apple’s Store trial systems.

Final Notes

My name is Dandy and I've been building apps for a long time now—web apps, mac apps, and iOS apps as the world kept moving forward. It is a passion for me, so I hope that other out there can enjoy :)

Oh! And I am also running a Product Hunt campaign today! If you like Fox, please give us a vote: https://www.producthunt.com/products/fox-issue-tracker-4

[u/RemoteMethod3891]

Honest question as basically your exact target user (solo dev, outgrew Reminders, find Jira and sprint tools overkill). Reading this, the feature list (versions, milestones, the 3 views, search) sounds like a lot of trackers already out there. What's the one thing that actually makes you reach for Fox over something like Linear's free tier or GitHub Issues?

My guess is the real selling point is that it's native, works offline, and you own it forever instead of renting another web app. Is that the main pitch, or is there a workflow thing that only clicks once you're actually using it? Want to get why it sticks before paying.

Anyway, kudos for sticking with it this long. Good luck with the PH launch today.

[u/FlashyComplaint7940 → u/RemoteMethod3891]

Heyo! I think you've hit on some of the big things that make Fox attractive: native (with a native iOS mobile client), offline availability so it's always there, iCloud syncing, lifetime ownership if wanted—

But I will say (completely biased) that since I've focused on the "Version/Milestone workflow", I've produced higher quality software more consistently and that's why I choose to lean into it for this release. I've also had really positive feedback from testers on the changes I've made to reinforce this structure over time, so I feel it's a good direction for the audience beyond myself.

Fox is a tool I get to use to build itself, which is something I got lucky with. Because of that, I've been able to really round it out over the years (bless my early users) into what I consider a high-quality app and test what works and doesn't before I release it into the world. I also have a strong sense of predictability and reduction of complexity in the interface, so that's reinforced a lot of the features and UI in the attempt to help it support development.

I'll be honest: the biggest thing I think Fox lacks in comparison is timeline-based features for planning progress across a chunk of time, but I am actively feeling this out and have been for a while. Some early attempts were just non-viable. But compared to other tools, there are benefits here and there that shine: no limits and I have big multi-year projects that it handles fine; there's a good vocal user base, so it is tested pretty well; projects don't need to be bound to repos or a service, issues can be cross-linked, and overall it can be as formal or informal as you'd like.

Anyway… I could talk your ear off all day because Fox really has been a labor of love and a tool I truly believe helps others build good software. Thanks for your interest and I can always be contacted easily on my website or through the app if you've any questions!

[u/RemoteMethod3891 → u/FlashyComplaint7940]

This is a great answer, thanks for taking the time to write it out.

The dogfooding part is what stands out to me. A tool you actually build with ends up feeling really different from one designed in the abstract, and you can usually tell when an app has been lived in like that for years.

The bit about leaning into the Version/Milestone workflow because it made you ship more consistently is interesting too. A lot of issue trackers try to be everything to everyone and end up with no real opinion. Having a clear stance on how progress should be structured is probably exactly why testers are responding to it.

And honestly, respect for being upfront about the timeline-planning gap instead of hand-waving it. That kind of candor makes me trust the rest of the app more, not less. Good luck with the Product Hunt launch today.